“I appreciate it. I’d like to have the trophies he’s got,” Miller said earlier this month of Hasek, who garnered some Harts, Vezinas and Stanley Cups. “But it meant a lot for me to carve out my own place for the Sabres and then carve out my own place in the league. I’m happy I’ve been able to play hockey at a high level with a lot of solid players around me.”
Miller is the all-time victory leader among American goalies. Asked Thursday if he’s casting a shadow for them the way Hasek cast a shadow over him at the start of his Buffalo career, Miller joked, “I’m pretty skinny. It’s not as much of a shadow.
“I’m just trying to enjoy and play. I think the evaluation of what I’ve done on the ice I can get more into later,” Miller said. “I just want to keep being in the moment right now. I’m proud to be an American player and I hope that I have set a standard because I’m proud of the way I played in my career. I’m really trying to hold on to this moment right now and keep having fun on the ice, try and help the boys win some games.”
Amerks coach has seen a lot in year one
Amerks coach Seth Appert has had quite an introduction to pro hockey with the truncated AHL season, Rochester’s Covid-19 outbreak and now an invitation to serve on the Sabres’ bench Thursday night while new interim assistant Dan Girardi was going through his intake quarantine. Prior to Krueger’s dismissal, Appert said last week he hasn’t spent a lot of time focused on the Sabres’ issues.